Comedy · c. 1596

The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

To fund his friend Bassanio's courtship of the heiress Portia, the merchant Antonio borrows three thousand ducats from the moneylender Shylock, pledging a pound of his own flesh against default. When Antonio's ships are lost, Shylock demands his bond in open court, and Portia, disguised as a young lawyer, turns the letter of the law against him. Beside the trial run the riddle of the three caskets, the elopement of Shylock's daughter Jessica, and the comedy of the rings.

Contents · 21 parts

• Persons of the Play23 lines
• Act I, Scene 1about 190 lines
• Act I, Scene 2about 100 lines
• Act I, Scene 3about 180 lines
• Act II, Scene 154 lines
• Act II, Scene 2about 180 lines
• Act II, Scene 324 lines
• Act II, Scene 447 lines
• Act II, Scene 560 lines
• Act II, Scene 679 lines
• Act II, Scene 786 lines
• Act II, Scene 858 lines
• Act II, Scene 9about 110 lines
• Act III, Scene 1about 100 lines
• Act III, Scene 2about 340 lines
• Act III, Scene 343 lines
• Act III, Scene 492 lines
• Act III, Scene 578 lines
• Act IV, Scene 1about 480 lines
• Act IV, Scene 226 lines
• Act V, Scene 1about 340 lines

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